Hong Yi's Gift!

One day.

While Lu Changsheng was chatting with his wives and concubines, a servant came to report to him.

Someone outside had asked to see him and presented a token.

When Lu Changsheng saw the token, he immediately knew that Hong Yi's people had arrived.

He returned to his study, picked up a brocade box he had already filled with talismans, and left the courtyard.

Naturally, Hong Yi's people could not enter Green Bamboo Mountain at will, so they waited outside.

When Lu Changsheng reached the foot of Green Bamboo Mountain, he immediately spotted a luxurious carriage parked nearby.

A banner stood atop the carriage, bearing the words "Ruyi Marquis" in large characters.

Around it was a group of sturdy men with agile builds and fierce, seasoned bearing, dressed in close-fitting black clothes and carrying long sabers and powerful crossbows.

Each rode a strong, jet-black horse ten feet long and eight feet tall, with powerful limbs.

At the head of this group stood the tall Hong Yi, dressed in sumptuous brocade robes.

Lu Changsheng had not expected Hong Yi to come in person this time, much less with such an impressive entourage.

From the appearance and bearing of the black-clad men beside him, it was clear that they were all martial arts experts.

Still, Lu Changsheng could understand.

This was their first transaction, so Hong Yi naturally wanted to show that he took it seriously.

Moreover, this transaction was worth over a hundred spirit stones.

Even for the Ruyi Marquis Manor, that was probably no small sum, and he would not feel comfortable entrusting it to just anyone.

"Brother Lu, it's been a while!"

Seeing Lu Changsheng emerge, Hong Yi immediately stepped forward to greet him with warmth and hearty enthusiasm.

Wearing a Purple-Gold Crown and luxurious purple brocade robes, he looked somewhat more dignified and imposing than before.

"Brother Hong, I didn't expect to trouble you to come in person this time."

Lu Changsheng also approached with a smile.

"I had nothing else to do, so I decided to make the trip myself."

"And to be honest, Brother Lu, this is my first time handling such a large transaction. Coming myself puts my mind at ease."

"If anything went wrong on the journey, I'd have to carry my own head back to face my father."

Hong Yi shook his head with a wry smile, speaking half in jest.

The Ruyi Marquis Manor had some reserves, but not a great deal. Losing over a hundred spirit stones would be painfully costly.

"Hahaha, you're joking, Brother Hong. The fact that your father entrusted this matter to you shows his faith in you."

Lu Changsheng said.

As he spoke, he took the brocade box of talismans from his Storage Bag and handed it to Hong Yi.

"Brother Hong, these are the talismans you wanted."

"There are twenty Fire Bullet Talismans, twenty Water Shield Talismans, twenty Evil-Repelling Talismans, twenty Earth-Escaping Talismans, and twenty Spring-Recovery Talismans. Have a look and count them."

"As for the price, we'll stick to what we agreed on: twenty percent below market price. That comes to a hundred and twelve spirit stones, but a hundred and ten will do."

Lu Changsheng said.

There were a hundred talismans in the brocade box.

At market price, they would have cost a hundred and forty spirit stones.

However, Lu Changsheng had already agreed with Hong Yi on a price twenty percent below market value.

After all, for a stable, long-term sales outlet that even came to collect the goods, a twenty-percent discount was hardly excessive.

Besides, Lu Changsheng currently had plenty of talismans on hand.

As long as he could sell them safely and steadily, he would accept even a few more tenths off the price.

After all, the cost of drawing his talismans was extremely low.

Most of his materials were leftovers from making talismans for the Lu Lineage. Only a small portion had been purchased himself to keep up appearances.

Hong Yi accepted the brocade box and opened it to look at the five stacks of talismans inside, a flicker of delight appearing in his eyes.

Once he brought this batch back, his position in the Ruyi Marquis Manor would be firmly secured.

If Lu Changsheng eventually became able to supply mid-grade talismans consistently, even the position of heir would no longer be so far out of reach.

"Good. Naturally, I trust you, Brother Lu."

Hong Yi did not inspect them carefully. After a few glances, he closed the brocade box again.

Then he took a hundred and twelve spirit stones from his Storage Bag and handed them to Lu Changsheng.

"Thank you, Brother Hong."

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng did not fuss over the extra two spirit stones and happily accepted them.

"You're too polite, Brother Lu. I should be thanking you."

"I also prepared a gift for you on this trip."

Hong Yi smiled and waved a hand, then looked toward the carriage and clapped his hands.

"A gift?"

Lu Changsheng was surprised.

Beside the carriage, a burly figure who could just barely be recognized as a woman pulled aside the curtain over the carriage door.

Then a clear jingling of bells rang out from within.

A red-haired woman leaned out of the carriage. Her lovely eyes were emerald green, her eyes deep-set and her nose upturned, her skin snowy white and dewy. She was strikingly beautiful, with a distinctly exotic allure.

Red gauze veiled her face and covered her hair. She wore a red strapless dress that bared her navel, revealing her pale swanlike neck, exquisite collarbones, and flat midriff.

With her lovely, fair arms, she lifted her long red skirt slightly. Bending her voluptuous, exquisitely curved figure, she extended a stunningly long leg from beneath the skirt and stepped down from the carriage, her toes touching the ground lightly.

Her thighs were full and firm, her calves long and strong. She wore neither shoes nor stockings, and her ten jade-smooth toes were painted with crimson flower juice, setting off her fair skin.

Around her delicate, finely boned ankles were a pair of gold anklets, hung with two tiny bells that jingled as she moved.

After stepping out of the carriage, the exotic red-haired woman offered Lu Changsheng a graceful bow. Every glance and movement carried the charm of an alluring fox.

Immediately afterward, another clear jingling of bells sounded inside the carriage.

A woman who looked remarkably similar to the red-haired beauty stepped out, likewise possessing a high nose, deep-set eyes, and a distinctly exotic appearance.

Unlike the red-haired woman, this woman's hair and eyes were both sea blue.

Compared with the red-haired woman's seductive beauty, her expression was somewhat aloof, giving her a cold yet enticing allure.

The two women looked very much alike.

Yet their eyes, hair colors, clothing, and temperaments were entirely different. Standing side by side, they made a uniquely breathtaking sight.

Then the two exotic women, with their long legs and full breasts, walked toward Lu Changsheng, each moving with a completely different gait.

Their steps were light and graceful, their skin fair and delicate. Their bare feet, with toes painted crimson, touched the ground without picking up a speck of dust.

Lu Changsheng could tell at a glance that both women practiced martial arts.

They were channeling their internal energy beneath their feet, which was how

they kept the dust from clinging to them.

"Jiu'er greets you, Master."

"Shui'er greets you, Master."

The two women came before Lu Changsheng and bowed gracefully.

One voice was as soft as the lilting speech of Wu, brimming with temptation.

The other was like a frigid mountain spring, yet it stirred desire in the heart.

"..."

Hearing the two women address him as Master, Lu Changsheng raised his brows slightly.

When he had seen them step out of the carriage, he had already begun to suspect what the gift might be.

Only now, however, did he confirm that the gift Hong Yi had mentioned was these two women.

He had to admit that they were indeed beautiful and alluring, capable of awakening a man's desires.

Their similar features, paired with utterly different temperaments and charms, made them all the more stunning at first sight.

They could not help reminding Lu Changsheng of Lu Miaoge and her sister, whom he had seen at Bambooheart Lake in the Lu Lineage's grounds.

Those two also looked alike, yet had entirely different personalities and temperaments.

But the problem was.

Who gave girls as gifts?

Granted, such things were considered normal in this world.

Yet when actually faced with it, Lu Changsheng still found it strange and felt rather awkward.